I thought it fitting to share this on Fourth of July weekend.My town has a program called Hometown Hero. When someone is returning from the war, we get an email and go to the airport. I just volunteered, and this is my first time. I was OVERWHELMED with emotion.

The young man looked like he was 20. Maybe. He was given an award from the county.

His town had their Veterans/motorcylists there. I would guess 200. He received an escort from them, to his home. Firefighters, EMT's, Police, and volunteers lined the path for him.

At the end of the parade path was the American flag, with the names of the men and women who lost their lives on 9-11.

I will be buying waterproof mascara for my next welcome home event. And I plan on attending every one.

How awsome is that!!! There is a lady at the Atlanta airport that volunteers for this everyday. I don't know how she knows who is coming in on what flight but she tries to greet each and every soldier coming home. What a great thing to do Joyce. I don't know if the waterproof mascara would help me.

I know how you feel Joyce, people don't understand why I get choked up about certain things to do with the military.

It still feels weird that they don't play the National Anthem before every movie with everyone standing, reverent & silent. I still stop and face the flag when I hear the National Anthem with my hand over my heart & don't move until the last note fades away. I still ball when the Blue Angels or any military fighter does a fly over, hear a 21 gun salute or Taps.

Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men ~ General George S. Patton, Jr.

She taking all the stars down from her sky to hang them up someplace new, where there's better weather and the sky's a different blue. ~ Autumn Fields